Gov't committed to reduce gender disparity at key decision-making levels: minister

Maldives is committed to reduce gender disparity at key decision-making levels of the state, says Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services, Aishath Mohamed Didi.

The minister made this remark in her address to the session to review Maldives in the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, virtually on Wednesday evening. She presented an intervention on the protection of vulnerable groups at the 26th session of the UPR Working Group.

During her address, the minister noted that the government recognized its “unequivocal obligation” to ensure impartiality prevails and equal platforms are provided to enable equal participation of all people in the society.

Maldives remains resilient in efforts to ensure the protection and empowerment of women, children and those with disabilities, despite being in the face of unceasing challenges and is “proud” of the remarkable progress made in the area in spite of challenges.

Enacted in 2016, the Gender Equality Act penalized all ideas and practices facilitating gender-based discrimination and provides an avenue of redress and accountability by mandating the formation of a mechanism for complaints, in all government institutions.

For the first time in Maldives, the government has also introduced electoral quotas for women with the amendments to the Decentralization Act which allocated 33 percent of local council seats to women.

Another testament of the government’s commitment to reduce gender disparity is the government’s appointment of the first female justices to the Maldives top court. The gender minister also added that 35 percent of the Cabinet of Ministers, over 20 percent of the State Ministers, 63 percent of the Civil Service and 22.3 percent of managerial positions are filled by women.

The minister noted that the government aims to establish affordable and well-regulated day-care service to support working mothers, conduct awareness programs on shared parental responsibilities and improve internet-based work systems to increase opportunities for women who wish to work from home amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Highlighting that eliminating violence against women and girls is a pivotal aspect at the core of women empowerment, Minister Didi noted that Maldives remains steadfast in its battle to end all forms of violence against them.

During her address, the minister also highlighted that the government recognizes the need to establish and implement stronger policies to ensure an equal platform for participation is provided for persons with disabilities.

Stressing that substance abuse has been a growing issue among the Maldivian youth, Minister Didi revealed the government’s approach focusing on effective rehabilitation and reintegration.

In this regard, Maldives remains resolute to invest time, political will, dedication and effective planning to build a “resilient”, “empowered” and “driven” society.

Minister Didi highlighted that the island nation is confident that future plans will address need for increase resource allocation and demand for a well-trained workforce and assured that Maldives will “strive” to implement the recommendations received during Wednesday’s UPR session, in order to address the challenges facing the enhancement of child protection, while affording those with disabilities and the elderly access to consistent social protection schemes, and enable every Maldivian to live and enjoy the dignified life they deserve.

The Maldives delegation that joined the event comprised of the gender minister, Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath, Minister of Home Affairs Sheikh Imran Abdulla and Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail alongside the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Asim Ahmed and senior officials of the President’s Office, Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.